Objective: Evaluation of Antimicrobial and Antifungal potential of Phytoconstituents present in leaf extracts of Bergenia ligulata (wall.) plant.
Methods: The antimicrobial effects of leaves of Bergenia ligulata (wall.) were evaluated using both ethanol and aqueous extracts against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Penicillium spp. Agar well diffusion method was employed in determining the antimicrobial activity and the broth dilution method for determining the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration. All the isolates examined were susceptible to both the ethanol, aqueous, and the combined aqueous and ethanol extracts (synergetic effect) of the Bergenia ligulata leaves.
Results: The zone of inhibition ranged from 6.93 ±0.02b mm to 12.81 ±0.03a mm with Escherichia coli being the most susceptible at 12.81 ±0.03a mm to the ethanol and 11.53 ±0.02a mm to the aqueous extracts at 250 mg/ml concentration while P. aeruginosa and Penicillin spp. were the slightest susceptible at 10.88 ±0.02a mm to the ethanol and 09.76 ±0.02a mm to the aqueous extract at 250 mg/ml concentration. The control/standard antimicrobial agent (Gentamicin and Metronidazole) exhibited higher inhibitory activity than the plant extracts. The least inhibitory value of 6.25 mg/ml was produced against P. aeruginosa by the ethanolic extract and against C. albicans by the combined (aqueous and ethanol) extracts of the plant. The qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening of the leaves of Bergenia ligulata reveals the presence of flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, and steroids. The most abundant percentage composition observed was flavonoids (7.72%) while tannins had the least component (4.29%).
Conclusion: The findings from this study show that the leaves extracts hold considerable antimicrobial activity against commonly encountered microorganisms in the environment. This therefore, implies that it can be used as a chemotherapeutic agent which will contribute to the development of antibiotic drugs against the test organisms
